The government employees union, whose Fort St. John local is currently on strike, has come out swinging against the Site C dam. 

 

“Site C is the wrong choice for British Columbia. The project is not needed: there are better alternatives,” BC Government and Services Employees Union (BCGEU) president Stephanie Smith said last Friday. 

 

“Site C will cause massive habitat loss. It violates First Nations’ indigenous rights. It removes high-value agricultural lands from production… The BCGEU is proud to lend our voice to the growing chorus of British Columbians who say no to this ill-considered project.”

 

The release also said that they support the Treaty 8 First Nations court battle against the project. 

 

This decision was made amongst the leadership of the BCGEU, and may have been made without the support of the BCGEU provincial representative for the local union members, according to BCGEU lead negotiator Brent Camilleri.

 

Camilleri said that provincial representatives may have been outvoted when the matter came up amongst the leadership as to whether or not to support the dam. 

 

The Site C dam is a hydroelectric dam set to be built seven kilometres from Fort St. John on the Peace River, with a potential price tag of $8.8 billion. Three First Nations are challenging it in court.  

 

Calls to the BCGEU media line asking for more information were not returned as of press time.